When A Million Hearts Become One
During Denmark’s opening match at Euro 2020 in Copenhagen against Finland, Denmark’s biggest star Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the pitch. It quickly became clear that the situation was serious when the medical staff ran onto the pitch and the Danish players formed a human wall surrounding the doctors performing first aid. Christian Eriksen had had a heart attack, he lay lifeless on the pitch for several minutes. Luckily the defibrillator worked and Christian Eriksen was resuscitated and was carried off the pitch in a stable condition. However, the shock of these events had clearly embedded itself within the players, the 23,000 spectators within the stadium, ‘Parken’, and the rest of the Danish population watching behind the tv screens.
Support for the Danish National team has been growing over recent years and there were also high expectations surrounding their participation in Euro 2020. However, everything quickly became about something much more important than just football. The whole country began to express their sympathy and respect for both Christian Eriksen and the National football team. At the same time, the country opened up after long periods of corona restrictions. It resulted in euphoria and a communal feeling throughout all of Denmark to an extent not seen since the country last won the European championship back in 1992. Despite Denmark not winning the trophy this time around, the team won the admiration and love of the entire country and the rest of the world.
Published by SO FOOT magazine